Program Overview
Tennessee’s #1 Ranked Nursing School — Three Campuses, 95% NCLEX Pass Rate
Three consecutive years of #1 rankings in Tennessee from Niche, a 95% NCLEX first-time pass rate, and 100% employment of graduates — Union University’s ABSN delivers outcomes that define what the rankings are measuring. Available across three campuses in Jackson, Germantown (Memphis), and Hendersonville (Nashville), the 15-month cohort-based program gives career changers geographic options within Tennessee.
Students benefit from close-knit faculty relationships that only a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio makes possible.
The GPA calculation is distinctive: only the last 60 hours of coursework are evaluated, with the highest grade used when courses were repeated — a framework that rewards academic improvement over time rather than penalizing students for early performance.
ABSN Admission Summary
Admission is competitive and cohort-based — Jackson admits once annually (Fall only), while Germantown and Hendersonville each admit twice (Fall and Spring). Rolling admissions means earlier applications receive earlier review within each cycle, but the published deadlines are firm.
GPA calculation — unique to Union:
Union calculates GPA using only the most recent 60 credit hours of coursework — not cumulative GPA. Key rules:
- Only the most recent grades are used; exactly 60 hours are included
- If a course was repeated, the higher grade is used; the lower grade is excluded entirely
- Plus/minus grades are treated as standard letter grades (A+, A, and A- all = 4.0 quality points)
- Minimum threshold: 3.0 on the last-60-hours calculation
- Applicants with 2.75–2.99 may be considered with a proficient ATI TEAS score
GPA and prerequisite requirements:
- Grade of C or higher required in all prerequisite courses
- Pathophysiology (BIO 300) must have been taken within the past 5 years of starting nursing courses
- Anatomy & Physiology I and II must have been taken within the last 7 years of beginning the cohort
- Students with 2 or more Ds or Fs in nursing courses from another institution are ineligible
Prerequisite coursework for applicants with a prior bachelor’s degree (6 courses):
- BIO 221 – Anatomy & Physiology I (4 cr.) — within 7 years
- BIO 222 – Anatomy & Physiology II (4 cr.) — within 7 years
- BIO 201 – Microbiology (4 cr.)
- PSY 213 – General Psychology (3 cr.)
- PSY 219 – Developmental Psychology (3 cr.)
- MAT 114 – Elementary Statistics and Probability (3 cr.)
Prerequisites are preferred to be complete by the application deadline but may be “in progress” — all transcripts must be submitted to Union at least one month before the program start date.
Application process — through NursingCAS:
- Apply through NursingCAS (nursingcas.org) — not directly to Union
- Submit all official transcripts from every post-secondary institution directly to NursingCAS electronically or by sealed mail to NursingCAS P.O. Box 9201, Watertown, MA 02471
- Submit two references (academic or professional) via NursingCAS — references must attest to academic ability and/or self-discipline
- Complete the BSNA Union Supplemental Application in the status portal (no supplemental fee)
- Pay $100 non-refundable deposit to secure cohort seat (applied toward tuition)
- Allow 2–4 weeks after submission for NursingCAS verification — unverified applications are not fully reviewed
Note: Attending a Virtual Preview Day waives the supplemental application fee.
Post-acceptance requirements:
- AHA CPR/BLS certification (Healthcare Provider level)
- Physical exam form and immunization record
- Clear urine drug screen
- Clear criminal background check
- Mandatory orientation the week before classes begin
International applicants must complete a separate international application, provide WES transcript evaluations, and submit TOEFL (560 paper/80 internet), IELTS (6.5), or iTEP (4.4) scores.
Curriculum
Sixty-three nursing credit hours are distributed across a 15-month cohort curriculum that includes skills practicum, two pharmacology courses, and dual adult health nursing sequences. All nursing courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher; no nursing course credits transfer from another institution.
Prerequisite Overview
Second-degree students must complete six prerequisite courses before starting. Pathophysiology (BIO 300) carries a 5-year recency requirement. A&P I and II must be within 7 years. See the admission summary above for the full prerequisite list.
Foundation Courses
BIO 300 – Pathophysiology (3 cr.) — within 5 years
NUR 302 – Foundations of Pharmacology (2 cr.) Introduces arithmetic dosages, drug classifications, and pharmacology principles. Emphasizes the legal and ethical responsibilities of nurses in medication administration.
NUR 309 – Skills Practicum (3 cr.) Provides hands-on practice in clinical nursing skills. Students work with faculty to develop competency in essential nursing procedures.
NUR 310 – Health Assessment (3 cr.) Focuses on history-taking, health status assessment, and recognizing deviations from normal. Enhances communication skills through patient interviewing techniques.
NUR 307 – Accelerated Foundations for Nursing Practice (5 cr.) Covers essential nursing interventions and skills for diverse patient populations. Introduces the nursing process as a foundation for critical thinking and decision-making.
NUR 408 – Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing I (3 cr.) Examines the biochemical and psychological effects of drugs. Emphasizes nursing interventions for various drug classifications and legal considerations.
Core Nursing Sequence
NUR 421 – Nursing Care of Adults in Health and Illness I (6 cr.) Covers professional nursing care for adults with complex illnesses. Integrates pathophysiology, psychosocial dynamics, and evidence-based interventions.
NUR 423 – Mental Health-Psychiatric Nursing (5 cr.) Applies mental health nursing concepts across various healthcare settings. Emphasizes therapeutic communication and interventions for individuals, families, and groups.
NUR 318 – Nursing Care of Childbearing Families (5 cr.) Explores health promotion and prevention for childbearing families. Emphasizes developmental stages and high-risk maternal and infant care.
NUR 418 – Nursing Care of Childrearing Families (5 cr.) Focuses on health promotion and disease prevention for children from infancy to adolescence. Addresses special healthcare needs and developmental stages.
NUR 330 – Introduction to Research in Nursing (3 cr.) Develops skills in critiquing and utilizing nursing research. Students apply scientific inquiry and critical thinking to a research project.
NUR 409 – Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing II (3 cr.) Continues the study of drug effects and nursing applications. Expands on pharmacological concepts introduced in NUR 408.
NUR 425 – Nursing Care of Adults in Health and Illness II (6 cr.) Advances nursing knowledge from NUR 421 with a focus on patient advocacy and education. Expands the nurse’s role in managing complex health conditions.
NUR 430 – Leadership and Management in Nursing (5 cr.) Examines healthcare organizational structures and the nurse’s leadership role. Emphasizes decision-making, patient advocacy, and management theories.
NUR 440 – Community Health Nursing (4 cr.) Focuses on population-based healthcare in diverse settings. Integrates nursing theory, research, and interdisciplinary knowledge to address community health needs.
NUR 499 – Senior Seminar (2 cr.) Prepares students for professional nursing practice and critical decision-making. Emphasizes concept synthesis and real-world application of nursing skills.
Pharmacology is taught across three sequential courses — Foundations of Pharmacology (NUR 302), Pharmacotherapeutics I (NUR 408), and Pharmacotherapeutics II (NUR 409) — one of the most deliberate and sustained pharmacology progressions in this review. Adult Health Nursing I and II each carry 6 credits, making the adult health sequence the most credit-intensive specialty thread across the program.
More curriculum details available in the course catalog: Union University BSNA Catalog
Clinicals
Clinical rotations are embedded throughout the 15-month curriculum alongside each major nursing specialty course. Union’s simulation lab and skills practicum infrastructure supports skill-building before live patient exposure, and the 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures close faculty supervision during clinical training.
- Clinical integration: Clinical components are embedded within specialty nursing courses throughout all semesters — not isolated to a final-semester block
- Skills Practicum (NUR 309, 3 cr.): A dedicated early practicum course that develops foundational nursing skills in a structured lab setting before students enter live clinical environments
- Specialties covered: Foundations of nursing practice, adult health I and II, psychiatric/mental health, childbearing (OB), childrearing (pediatrics), community health, and leadership and management
- Leadership clinical: NUR 430 Leadership and Management (5 cr.) includes a dedicated clinical component — producing nurse leaders, not just bedside practitioners
- Simulation lab: On-campus nursing simulation labs are available at all three campuses; virtual lab tour available through Union’s website; simulation facility at Germantown is physically proximate to the Memphis healthcare market
- Campus clinical networks: Each campus serves its respective regional market — Jackson (West Tennessee), Germantown (Memphis metro), Hendersonville (Nashville metro); specific named clinical hospital partners are not published in available materials — contact Sarah Beck at sebeck@uu.edu or 731-661-5024 for current affiliate information
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 — one of the lowest in this review, directly impacting the quality of clinical oversight and faculty mentorship during rotations
Tuition
Estimated total nursing program tuition: ~$47,000
Union prices the ABSN at $746 per credit hour for the 2026–2027 academic year.
| Component | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Tuition | 63 cr. × $746 | $46,998 |
$100 deposit | Applied to first semester | Included |
Program tuition total | ~$47,000 |
At ~$47,000, Union is priced in the mid-range among Tennessee private university ABSN programs — less expensive than Lipscomb (~$69,738), Marian (~$80,000+), and most multi-campus private programs, but more than Tennessee’s public university options (ETSU ~$27,485, Tennessee Tech ~$25,000). The three-campus model across Tennessee’s major markets, a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, and #1 state rankings provide meaningful differentiation at this price point.
Union offers more than $41 million in annual financial aid and reports that 100% of incoming freshmen receive some form of aid. For ABSN students, federal loans via FAFSA are the primary financial aid avenue — contact Union’s undergraduate financial aid office for ABSN-specific options.
See the official tuition page for more details: Union University Tuition & Fees
Accreditation
Union University’s nursing programs are aligned with the AACN 2021 Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Specific CCNE or ACEN accreditation body is not explicitly named in the available program materials — prospective students should confirm current programmatic accreditation status directly with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Union University holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination upon program completion.